Share This Story!

Mayweather says distractions not a problem vs. Maidana

LAS VEGAS -- When pound-for-pound champion Floyd "Money" Mayweather has a weigh-in, it's an event, not just a requirement. So it was Friday when more than 8,000 people packed the MGM Grand Garden Arena to

LAS VEGAS — Floyd Mayweather Jr. said Friday that the major distractions he has faced this week and during the last few months will not have an effect on his title fight against Marcos Maidana on Saturday night at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.

Mayweather revealed on Showtime's All-Access reality show Wednesday that his longtime live-in fiancee, Chantal Jackson, was pregnant with Mayweather's twins three months ago and is no longer pregnant. The two have since broken up.

"My job is to go out there and do what I do best," Mayweather said after weighing in at 146 pounds, one under the welterweight limit. "I perform better under pressure. I look forward to going out there and being Floyd Mayweather and taking my time, keeping my composure and doing what I do best.

"Pressure. I love it. I love it. The main thing is, as long as God loves me, I'm OK."

After the weigh-in, there was another controversy involving the gloves that Mayweather and Maidana will use for the fight. Mayweather's camp rejected the 8-ounce gloves Maidana selected because they did not have enough padding in the knuckle area. The two sides will undoubtedly come to an agreement by fight time.

Mayweather's weigh-ins are more than a pre-fight requirement. They are full-blown events. More than 9,500 people -- hundreds were turned away -- packed the arena to watch Mayweather and his opponent, Maidana, along with their star-studded undercard, weigh in for Saturday's welterweight title unification bout (Showtime pay-per-view, 9 p.m. ET).

A free performance by Grammy-nominated hip-hop artist 2 Chainz primed the fans for the main event, and undoubtedly brought in a good chunk of the crowd. Also Golden Boy Promotions had a parade of Champions. Bernard Hopkins, Danny Garcia, Keith Thurman and Deontay Wilder were among the 14 champions, as well as former champion Paul Williams, who is paralyzed after a motorcycle accident a few years ago.

Maidana weighed in at 146.5 pounds, just under the welterweight limit of 147.

"I'm calm and relaxed and ready for the fight," Maidana said. Asked why he was so calm, Maidana said, "Well, because of my style. I know Mayweather's great and all that, but since he's so big, that's why I want to beat him."

"I believe our fight can definitely steal the show on Saturday night," Khan said. "It's my first fight at 147, I just can't wait to put on a great performance. I just can't wait to put on a great performance."

Golden Boy has said that the winner of the Khan-Collazo fight could get a shot against Mayweather in September.

Adrien Broner (27-1, 22 KOs), who was nearly knocked out by Maidana last December, takes on Carlos Molina (17-1-1, 7 KOs) in a 10-round non-title bout.